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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: TheBlackCrane on June 16, 2013, 03:33:00 PM

Title: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 16, 2013, 03:33:00 PM
I've gradually been coming back round to my favourite of all historical events (well, in terms of potential wargaming projects at least); The Siege of Malta - something I've looked at doing in various ways for a long time but never got round to actually doing. So, starting out smallish with the idea that I could use Brink of Battle for some skirmishes, I realise I can't recall ever having seen a range of 28mm Knights of St John suitable for the period...

Anyone know if there is such a range anywhere, or able to point me in the direction of suitable figures?

I'm thinking Redoubt for the Ottomans, Barbary Corsairs and so forth, and there are quite a few useful figures for the defenders amongst their renaissance range too, but as for the actual knights, I'm stumped...

Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Rob
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Romark on June 16, 2013, 03:48:53 PM
I'm sure I've seen the nucleus of a range for this period sculpted by Paul Hicks I believe,I'll see if I can find the link,course at my age I could have dreamt it.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Vanvlak on June 16, 2013, 04:36:35 PM
I believe Venexia, an Italian company, has models which could be used for the knights. Remember they had Spanish troops, local irregulars, and the knights themselves tended to shed bits of armour in the heat. I should know, I'm on site....

Venexia have an importer in the UK, don't know about anywhere else.

Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Romark on June 16, 2013, 04:56:04 PM
Found the site and figures I was thinking of at White Knight miniature emporium site,there's a picture there that may be of interest of some foot figures from Progloria/Arsenal miniatures,hope that helps.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 16, 2013, 05:38:58 PM
Thanks -

The UK supplier for Venexia was Vexillia, but Venexia went defunct and I think the ranges were sold to a company in the USA; I don't know whether they're up and selling again, but I don't know whether the 28mm range ever did figures for as late as 1565 anyway...

I've had a look for the Arsenal Miniatures Maltese/Spanish; I remember when they first were mentioned, but no reference to them on the Pro Gloria site, or indeed Empress, who supply Pro Gloria here, so I shall have to do some more digging on that one.

What I have come across are lots of archived threads on various forums, asking whether and if anyone is EVER going to do a range specifically for Malta because that seems to be the big gap in C16th ranges. Even just a range of the knights themselves would be fine since there are lots of figures which would work for the other defenders and of course for the Turks.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Svennn on June 16, 2013, 05:46:23 PM
http://arsenalminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://arsenalminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/)
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Juan on June 16, 2013, 07:24:02 PM
I remember to have read that "Pro Gloria Miniatures" had the intention to buy Arsenal´s figures...
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 16, 2013, 08:16:24 PM
That's what the link on on WK's Miniature Imperium says

http://whiteknightminiatureimperium.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Spanish%20and%20Elisabethan%20Figures

So an email to Pro Gloria might be in order I think
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Orctrader on June 16, 2013, 08:22:13 PM
So an email to Pro Gloria might be in order I think

Let us know if you hear anything.   :)  Be interested to know if they are available.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 16, 2013, 10:34:49 PM
Mm very much so!
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: CamKrist on June 17, 2013, 09:55:37 AM
I decided to give a hand and sent a post into social bookmarks. I hope the popularity will rise in.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Mad Doc Morris on June 17, 2013, 10:59:08 AM
So an email to Pro Gloria might be in order I think

You could also ask Regulator (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1770) (owner of Pro Gloria) to share his thoughts here directly. Have pestered him before about this, and last state was that the former Arsenal range and their owner seem to have vanished into thin air. Very sad. :'(
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Helen on June 19, 2013, 08:11:58 AM
You could also ask Regulator (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1770) (owner of Pro Gloria) to share his thoughts here directly. Have pestered him before about this, and last state was that the former Arsenal range and their owner seem to have vanished into thin air. Very sad. :'(

Stephan e mailed me this morning confirming the owner and miniatures have gone walk abouts.

Cheers,

Helen
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 19, 2013, 11:09:43 AM
Oh, thanks! Especially since I hadn't yet sent an email enquiring myself.

So it's back to square one, and perhaps trying to do some conversions.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: traveller on June 19, 2013, 08:29:54 PM
After reading Simon Scarrows "Sword and the Scimitar" I am also hooked on the Great siege. I think I will go for TAG Turks, even if tehy arenfor a later period together with all sorts of Arab types. The size of Redoubt miniatures is a bit of a problem. For the defenders I have lined up:

Spanish - GW Pirazzos and TAG
knights and squires - Foundry Elisabethans as well as the forthcoming TAG Tudor range
Italian mercenaries - ?
Maltese militia - ?

I look forward to reading more in this thread  ;)

Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 19, 2013, 11:20:31 PM
For me it was back years ago when I read Roger Crowley's 'Empires of the Sea', since then having read anything I can find, historical and novel. Barnaby Rogerson's 'The Last Crusaders' is a more general history of the period, but it is one of the best histories I've read, period, can't recommend it enough.

Novel-wise, If you haven't come across it Tim Willocks' 'The Religion' is superb, (Also, Blood Rock was quite good (James Jackson), and Sword and Scimitar I quite enjoyed, though I thought it dragged a bit at times).

I was looking at the TAG range earlier on, some of the Spanish and some of the Italian swordsmen I thought I might be able to convert, add greenstuff tabards and so forth. I do like Redoubt figures though, but you're right the size is a bit of an issue for compatibility with other ranges. They do have corsairs though, which is an advantage.

Hadn't thought about Elizabethans, I might pinch that idea!
The Italian mercenaries again redoubt would be good for I think, but again the size issue is there. Maltese - well, if Arsenal Miniatures ever turn up again... I'll have to do some more digging though.

Incidentally, the Eureka 100 Club has listed Knights of St John for 1565, currently at 50+, but no more information than that, and I don't know how Eureka stack up against other manufacturers.

Some of the threads I've read are quite positive about the Old Glory Ottoman range.

I'm going to have to find some time to put together a more cohesive plan now, I think this project might just have been brought forward. Drat. :D
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 20, 2013, 12:17:31 AM
I wonder whether some of the figures from the Border Reiver range, formerly Vendel, now Sgt Major in the USA, would work too. The pictures on the sight don't zoom in particularly well, but I can certainly see a few in 3/4 armour that I think would be appropriate. Shame they aren't available individually.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: traveller on June 20, 2013, 06:44:18 AM
Vendel would definately be a good choice. They disappeared from my radar once the went west. Eureka has some Portugese that are useful and Newline have some Barbary pirates:

http://newlinedesigns.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=490_501&zenid=e5cd7e909f081517c5ff27a90fec2317

Half of the range seems though to have disappeared. I have some 20 different figures from that range.

If you gonna go "big" with Redoubt you might look at Monolith Reiver range (if you can find them) and old Glory Wars of the religion. These should match well.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 20, 2013, 07:01:37 AM
I purchased some of the Vendel Reivers and was frankly disappointed. Although they shared sculpting style with Gripping Beast (same sculptor???) the casting was poor with much of the depth of detail lost or being very "smooth" - I got the impression perhaps my lot were from a mould on its way out.

That was a while ago, before they moved to Sgt Major, so that issue might have been resolved.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Helen on June 20, 2013, 12:14:05 PM
Hello,

I would be interested in photographs,illustrations and sources for the Knights of Malta, Brethren, men at arms, militia characters etc for 1565 as I may have someone who maybe interested in arranging a few miniatures to be done.

I'm still in the settling mode at my new country (so much to do) place so information and time is very limited.

Please use this thread for all material. Thank you very much.

Cheers,

Helen



Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 20, 2013, 11:21:48 PM
If you gonna go "big" with Redoubt you might look at Monolith Reiver range (if you can find them) and old Glory Wars of the religion. These should match well.

I think it all comes down to where I can find suitable Knights or figures to convert, and then I'll see what corresponds to the sizes Monolith I have seen some pictures of, but their site has malicious code/virus software which my anti-virus just blocked an attack from, so won't be going there. Threads referring to them, on TMP etc, all seem to be very old and with no knowledge of where they've got to either!

This period seems to be the wargaming equivalent of a black hole.  o_o
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: moonshado on June 23, 2013, 10:18:04 AM
I hope that the rumour concerning ProGloria buying up those Arsenal figures is correct. They are gorgeous figures and would be a perfect fit with ProGloria's existing figures.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Vanvlak on June 23, 2013, 10:29:57 AM
Try 'Fortresses of the Knights' by Stephen Spiteri, or his 'The Great Siege' - both have lots of images.
Or Google for Perez D'Aleccio frescoes of the siege - he was a contemporary artist and you get a good idea of what both sides wore.
Sample:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Perez_d'Aleccio (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Perez_d'Aleccio)
And another (a bit small)
(http://www.ilovefood.com.mt/wp-content/gallery/paintings/assualt-on-post-of-castlian-knights.jpg)
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 23, 2013, 12:19:19 PM
I've pinged monolith an email. Not sure if I will get a reply, but if I do I will let you all know.

I'm interested in using their figures for the Scottish Civil Wars around this time and specifically for the Queens army at Corrichie which was fought in 1562 between crown forces and the Earl of Huntly.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 24, 2013, 07:28:47 PM
Reply from Monolith,
"- yes they are still available - not all are in stock - though they can of course be cast - I generally get them cast twice a year - next casting will be July/August - depending on demand"

 :)
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: moonshado on June 24, 2013, 07:41:26 PM
These Monolith figures are from the Graven Images range done by Jim Bowen? I had thought from the fact that their web site had not been updated for ages that the range was no more. Did they give any indication of present prices? As those shown on the website must be long out of date, if they're not they are possibly the best value figures on the market
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: traveller on June 24, 2013, 10:41:25 PM
Reply from Monolith,
"- yes they are still available - not all are in stock - though they can of course be cast - I generally get them cast twice a year - next casting will be July/August - depending on demand"

 :)

Was there a name in the reply. I also sent them emails and I got response from Steve M. However he promised to come back to me but never did. I hope ordering is safe ???
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 24, 2013, 11:38:30 PM
There was no name in the reply, although the addressee's initials were SM. What you see is the text of the email. I'll ask though and see what the reply is.


Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: TheBlackCrane on June 24, 2013, 11:45:16 PM
What you see is the text of the email.

If that was the whole text of the email, is it just me or does it sound rather short and terse? Nothing about why the website is seemingly a virus-hotbed? I'd certainly be interested if he was going to get the figures recast, but I'd ideally like to at least see some pics, or even a list, and know the company was operating...
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: grant on June 28, 2013, 07:32:32 PM
http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8633&hilit=Malta
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: traveller on June 28, 2013, 09:13:33 PM
I pinched a few images of the Knights of St John from the web:

(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/328d8383d1b7a4b165bf4c0b7dfe2e66-398965500-1301990720-4d9acd40-620x348_zps2aa57a18.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/328d8383d1b7a4b165bf4c0b7dfe2e66-398965500-1301990720-4d9acd40-620x348_zps2aa57a18.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/Knight1_zps6832ff01.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/Knight1_zps6832ff01.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/Knight7_zps9e32055e.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/Knight7_zps9e32055e.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/Knight3_zps107b2680.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/Knight3_zps107b2680.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/Knight5c_zps8115dd84.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/Knight5c_zps8115dd84.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/null_zpsc2c372fa.png) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/null_zpsc2c372fa.png.html)

I can see some useful types in the Redoubt, Foundry and TAG ranges to represent these, semi-armoured knights. Especially the new TAG Tudors look promising:

(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG8_zps46d97453.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG8_zps46d97453.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG7_zps285c2aed.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG7_zps285c2aed.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG6_zps5ebecc8d.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG6_zps5ebecc8d.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG5_zpsd1b6f1f2.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG5_zpsd1b6f1f2.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG4_zps33045948.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG4_zps33045948.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG3_zps89b729c5.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG3_zps89b729c5.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG2_zpse9d71eb2.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG2_zpse9d71eb2.jpg.html)
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/Travellera/Malta%201565/TAG1_zpsa75b82d2.jpg) (http://s732.photobucket.com/user/Travellera/media/Malta%201565/TAG1_zpsa75b82d2.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Franz_Josef on September 13, 2013, 02:48:42 AM
I think there is also some real potential in The Assault Group's new Tudor range, especially among some of the Border/Militia infantry packs (steering clear of longbows, of course) and the Tudor gun crew.  Nothing about them specifically screams "English," and they can just as easily be French, Spaniards, Venetians, etc. circa 1550's period.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: moonshado on September 13, 2013, 05:47:59 AM
TAG were also working on producing a Valois army, during Kickstart had most of the greens near complete. So hopefully they will be out fairly soon and there were some nice armoured Swiss among those greens.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Mad Doc Morris on October 11, 2013, 12:24:49 PM
Well, sometimes it's good to have a big kraken like Warlord Games in the pond. They obviously acquired the never-gone-to-production Arsenal range discussed here before: NEWS LINK (http://www.warlordgames.com/39991/warlord-games-purchases-arsenal-miniatures-range/)
Here's hope that they will commission some more Hicks sculpts for this… 8)
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on October 11, 2013, 01:10:38 PM
Excellent news - this range now looks set to see both the light of day and some expansion too!
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Franz_Josef on October 11, 2013, 02:46:34 PM
FANTASTIC !!!   Now we fans of the 16th century can see "some of the love" the ECW gamers have enjoyed for so many years!  Excellent looking figures with uses for many conflicts of the period.
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: Helen on October 11, 2013, 09:08:14 PM
Fantastic news, well done Warlord.

Helen
Title: Re: 28mm Knights of St John? (Malta 1565)
Post by: SgtKiley on October 15, 2013, 09:53:14 PM
Those pics are great - just right for a certain project, though it's a pity the book about the Great Siege is in Polish! Does anyone know what happened to these guys, btw?
http://www.eliteminiaturas.com/indexelite.htm